A Canadian perspective on the use and preparation of cryopreserved red cell concentrates

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) operates a national rare blood program to meet the needs of a highly diverse Canadian civilian population. This program manages the frozen inventory of red blood cell products maintaining upwards of 800 units of strategically identified phenotypes for patient use. Red cell concentrates (RCCs) are collected from identified donors with rare blood types as whole blood and are further processed into leukocyte reduced red cell concentrates in SAGM. These units can be stored for up to 21 days prior to glycerolization and frozen storage. The use of the ACP 215, a closed system cell processor, for cryopreservation using the high glycerol method allows for an extended expiry date of 14 days post deglycerolization when RBCs are suspended in AS-3 and stored hypothermically prior to transfusion. This method produces units that meet all Canadian regulatory standards. Introduction of extended outdates has allowed CBS to decrease operational costs and improve cryopreserved RCC product quality.